Guide rod for small grain elevators



M. w. RoscoE ET AL. ,560,3.

GUIDE ROD FOR SMALL GRAIN ELEVATORS Filed Sept. 14. 1949 INVENToRs lab Y Mw. RosCoE a BY R. L. BELDIN Patented July T7, 1951 GUIDE ROD FOR SMALL GRAIN ELEVATORS Merrill W. Roscoe, Moline, Ill., and Royal L. Beldin, Davenport, Iowa, assignors to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,734

This invention relates to a material-handling device and more particularly to an elevator for the handling of small grain or similar material. Specically, the invention resides in improved guide or control means for maintaining the relationship between the inclined elevator element or tube and the supporting means therefor.

A grain elevator of one well-known type comprises a supporting base adapted to rest upon thc ground or a floor and carrying an inclined elongated elevator element having an upper or delivery end positionable at different levels. The adjustable support for the elevator element comprises a boom or derrick angularly swingable about a transverse horizontalaxis and engageable with the elevator element and movable therealong to position the latter at selected levels. Ordinarily, the relationship between the support or boom and the elevator tube is effected by a pair of rollers on the boom which slide lengthwise of the elevator element. Heretofore, the maintenance of this relationship depended upon the weight of the elevator element. However, it was found that dependence on this characteristic could be had only at the sacrifice of stability and safety.

According to the present invention, there is provided means in the form of a guide rod running lengthwise of the elevator element and cooperable with a guide carried by the upper end of the support, the structure being such that, although the upper end of the boom or support is movable lengthwise of the element, such move-y ment is guided or controlled by the guide rod. Hence,Y the boom and elevator tube are held against vertical displacement. Further, opposite ends of the guide element or rod provide spacedapart stops for limiting the range of movement of the upper end of the support relative to the elevator tube, so that extreme and unsafe positions cannot be obtained. It is a further object of the invention to provide the elongated elevator element in the form of a plurality of sections, each having opposite ends flanged and joined to end flanges of a neighboring section, spaced-apart pairs of these flanges being apertured to receive opposite ends of the guide rod, whereby these flanges serve as spaced-apart stops and the guide serves both as a guide and as a compression and tension member forming a structural part of the elevator construction,

The foregoing and other important objects and desirable features inherent in and encompassed by the invention will become apparent as a complete disclosure is made of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the following detailed 5 Claims. (Cl. 1598-121) description and accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational View of one wellt known type of elevator equipped with the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary enlarged view, partly in section, of the upper portion of the elevator with which the improved guide rod is associated; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

The elevator chosen for the purposes of the present illustration comprises a base or supporting means designated generally by the numeral i This base is adapted to rest upon the ground or a floor by means of a, pair of wheels l2 (only one` of which appears in the drawings). An elongated elevator element designated generally by the numeral lli is carried by the base and operatively assumes a position inclined to the horizontal. The support of the elevator element on the base lli is accomplished by means of a first support or reach i6 and a second support in the form of a derrick or boom i8, the lower ends of each of which are pivoted to the base, preferably on the axis of the wheels IZ. The upper or other end of the reach i6 is pivoted at 2li to the sides of the lower portion of the elevator element lll.

The lower end of the elevator element I4 constitutes a material-receiving end and for this purpose may be provided with any suitable hopper or receiving means, such as the hopper indicated at 22 and the inlet tube indicated at 2li.

These details are relatively unimportant in so far as the present invention is concerned. The upper end of the elevator element constitutes a discharge end and for that purpose is provided with a hood section 26 to which is attached a V similar tubular section 32, and the lower of which is a tubular section 34 at the receiving end of the elevator element. The sections 26, 3l), 32 and 34 are arranged in end-to-end relationship to form the elongated elevator structure. The section 3G is flanged at 3E at its opposite ends, the section 32 is similarly flanged at opposite ends at 38, the section 34 is flanged at 40 at one end, and the hood section 26 is flanged at 42.

The housing or tubular elevator structure contains appropriate conveying means, such as an endless chain 44, which is equipped with paddles 46 (Figure 3) for conveying grain upwardly from the hopper 22 to the discharge hood and spout 26-28. .Any suitable :sourceof power ymay be provided for driving'the conveying means. In the drawing, an internal combustion engine 48 has been illustrated for this purpose.

In the preferred elevatonconstruction, .the flange 48 at the upper end of the lower section 34 is paired with and joined tothe lower flange 38 on the intermediate section32. The :-junction of the anges 38-48 is completed -bya plurality of bolts 50 (Figure l).

The flange 38 at the upper end of the intermediate section 32 is paired with and joined-tothe lower flange 36 on the-upper end section 3D. These two flanges are secured together, in part, by a plurality of bolts 52 (Figure 2) The upper flange. 36 of the-section 30 is paired .with and joined to the ange 42 on the hood section326 and the assembly includes securing means inthe form of a plurality of bolts 54 (Figure 2). The pair of yflanges 36-'42 is thus'spaced lengthwise of the elevator element I4 from the 'pair of fanges 36-38. Each pair of flanges projects transversely (inthe `present case downwardly at least) from the elevator element I4.

According to the present invention, a guide rod or equivalent elongated element 56 parallelsv the underside of the section. 38 and has its opposite ends respectively threaded at'58 and 6I). The paired flanges 36-42 are aperturedto receive the threaded end 58 and the spaced, pair of flanges 36-38 are similarly apertured to receive the other threaded end 68. The threaded end 56 of the rod carries a pair of nuts'62 and 64, one at either side of the paired flanges 36-42. These nuts and the rod serve, in addition to connecting the rod 58 to the flanges, as means for additionally securing the flanges 36 andj42 together. In otherwords, the upper end of the rod, including the nuts 62 and 64, complements the securing means comprisingthe boltsV 54. The relationship of the opposite end of the rod 56 to the flanges 36 and 38 is similar, this end of the rod including a pair of nuts 66 and 68.

As previously mentioned, the upper end of the support or boom I8 engages and is movable lengthwise along the undersideof the elevator element I4. Specifically, the upper end ofthe boom I8 is provided with a pair of spaced-apart members I8a and I8b between which is carried a short transverse shaft 18. This shaft carries rotatably thereon a pair of spaced-apart rollers "I2 and'14, the rollers engaging and rolling on the underside of the section 38. The rod'56 is-intermediate the underside of the section 30:and the shaft 10.

:A spacer member 'I6 is interposed between the rollers 'I2 and 'I4 and the shaftv'IU passes therethrough. f This spacei` includes, preferablyas an integral part thereof, a guide member "I8 which is apertured at 88 toslidably receive the rod 56. The construction of the guide memberY 'I8 (Figure 3) is such that it hooks over the guide rod 56, thus confining the rod 56, and consequently the elevator element I4, against upward displacement away from the boom I8, since the latter is connected to the guide member 18 by the parts I6-10.

The underside of'the` spacer, 16 includes an `nections to the section 30 eye 82, preferably formed integral therewith, which receives one end of a cable 84. The other end of the cable is wrapped on winch means, designated generally by the numeral 86 (Figure 1).

It will be seen from the description that the winch and cable 84-86 may be utilized to move the upper end of the boom lengthwise along the section 38. This results vin elevating or .depressing the discharge end of the elevator element I4. Lengthwise movement of the upper end of the vboom relative to the elevator element is accom- `plished by the slidable relationship between the guide rod 56 and the apertured guide member :18. 'I'he range of .movement of the upper end of `the boom is confined to the length of the rod,

opposite endportions of the rod and their con- (58--62-64 and 6066-68) providing spaced-apart stops. It

-will be seen that the rod 56, in addition to its guiding function, serves. also as a member that is in both compression and tension zand thus provides a structural component of the upper part of thefelevator element.

Of `primary importance with respect to .,the structure including the rod56, the spaced-apart stop means, and the apertured guide element,=.is the relationship by means of which thestructure'confines'the components against undesired relative movement. For example," since the rod 56 passesv through the guide member 'I8,-there can'be no upward displacement of the elevator element I4 away from the boom I8. Thus, the elevator element cannot jump off the rollers '12 and'14, thus adding to-the general-safety of the elevator. Further, engagement yof the V.guide member 'I8 with the lower stop(6056-'68 and the flanges 36-38) prevents the operatorrfrorn inadvertently elevating the elevator4 elementto a dangerous height. It will be notedv that extreme movement of the upperfend of the .boom I8 to the right or toward the lower endzofg the elevator element wouldcause the-entire elevator to be overbalanced toward the left. Not l,only would this upset the elevator, but -itis possible that the reach I6 could fold completely over'on the boom l' I8, and the entire structure'fwould collapse.

Other advantages and features ofthe-invention not specifically enumerated above-Will .undoubtedly occur to those skilled in the;a/rtv as will numerous modifications and alterationsvin the preferred construction illustrated, all of which may be achieved without departing' from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A grain elevator 0r the like having=a `base adapted to rest on the ground or a floor, an elongated elevator element inclim'ng upwardlyV from the base and carried by the base forv` selective positioning at different angles to the horizontal, and a support carried by the base `foradjustment through various angles relative to thehorizontal and having an upper portion engaging` and'movable along the underside of the elevator-element tol vary the angular positionI of said element, characterized in that:4 the elevator lelementvincludes a plurality of sections arranged infend-to end relationship, each section having an-end flange projecting below the underside lof i,the elevator element and paired withfand joined-.to an end flange of afneighboring section, 4certain pairs of said joined iianges being spaced apart lengthwise of the lelevator element with the upper portion of the :support therebetween;

means is carried on said upper portion of the support including a guide member proximate to the underside of the elevator element and having an aperture generally on an axis paralleling the length of the elevator element; and a single guide rod extends beneath and parallel to the underside of the elevator element, is slidable through the guide member aperture and is secured at only opposite end portions thereof respectively to the aforesaid pairs of spaced-apart, joined anges.

2. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the upper portion of the support includes a shaft transverse to the elevator element and a pair of rollers spaced apart axially of the shaft and engaging the underside of the elevator element at opposite sides of the guide rod, and the apertured guide member is carried by the shaft between the rollers.

3. The invention deiined in claim 1, further characterized in that: the opposite ends of the guide rod are threaded and said paired anges are apertured so that said threaded ends respectively pass therethrough, and securing elements are respectively threaded on said threaded ends and engaging said joined ilanges.

4. The invention defined in claim 1, further characterized in that: each pair of said joined ilanges is apertured so that the respective end of the guide rod passes therethrough; and means are provided at each end of the guide rod engaging the respective joined flanges from both sides so that said guide rod serves tovsecure the anges together and also constitutes both a compression and a tension member between said spaced-apart pairs of joined flanges.

5. A grain elevator or the like having a base adapted to rest on the ground or a iioor, an elongated elevator element inclining upwardly from the base and carried by the base for selective positioning at different angles to the horizontal,

and a support carried by the base for adjustment through various angles relative to the horizontal and having an upper portion engaging and movable lengthwise along the elevator element to vary the angular position of said element, characterized in that: the elevator element includes a plurality of tubular sections arranged in endto-end relationship, each section having an end iiange paired with and joined to an end ange of a neighboring section, certain pairs of said joined flanges being spaced apart lengthwise of the elevator element with the upper portion of the support therebetween; means is carried on said upper portion of the support including a guide member proximate to the elevator element and having an aperture generally on an axis paralleling the length of the elevator element; and a single guide rod extends parallel to the elevator element, is slidable through the guide member aperture and is secured at only opposite end portions thereof respectively to the aforesaid pairs of spaced-apart, joined flanges.

MERRILL W. ROSCOE. ROYAL L. BELDIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 289,204 Allison Nov. 27, 1883 993,737 Thurman May 30, 1911 1,254,414 Lantz Jan, 22, 1918 1,355,308 Brown Oct. 12, 1920 1,775,021 Dolan Sept. 2, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 513,450 Germany Nov. 27, 1930 

